Richard has been the Superintendent Minister of the Ashford Circuit since September 2004. He comes from Chester in the North West of England, and was married to Carol, who comes from Northern Ireland, in August 1989. Richard and Carol have a son, John, who is a student at the Norton Knatchbull Grammar School in Ashford.

Richard, Carol and John came to Ashford from Italy where they had previously spent eleven years as Mission Partners. From 1993 to 1998 Richard served as Minister to the English Language Methodist Church at Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome, and then from 1998 to 2004 at Padova and Vicenza, two Italian language Methodist Churches in North Eastern Italy. Before going abroad, Richard had trained for the Methodist Ministry at Wesley College, Bristol and served a first appointment in the Newcastle under Lyme circuit in North Staffordshire.

He sees his ministry as primarily a Pastoral charge in which he also seeks to care for the spiritual, administrative and practical needs of the wider circuit. Richard regards himself as a passionate gospel preacher and has a particular orientation to outreach and mission.

His interests include mountain walking, keep fit, music, chess and reading. He and his family maintain interest in Italy and makes regular return visits during the holidays.